It all boils down to you.”
-K. Repp
As an estate planning attorney, I help clients secure their assets so that when the time comes, their legacy is not only protected for their loved but respected by them as well.
My efforts secure your life, after death.
It’s easy to get stuck thinking about the future, but what about now? I think about what I can do now to protect myself and the life I have built.
Recently, I read an article about Identity Theft – what it is, the warning signs, and preventive measures we can take. It certainly gave me pause knowing all the different ways my personal information may accessible to others! But, like I tell my clients, the better informed you are, the easier things will be.
With technology today, you don’t have to leave your house to get things done. You can shop, do your taxes, and open a bank account, all from the comfort of your own home. We try not to think about the awesome risks this easy access to daily services comes with. We know identity theft happens, and we also know that it could “never happen to us”… until it does. It’s important to ask yourself what you can do to protect your life, not just for the future but for today.
The steps you take today will make a difference.
-SLS
To learn more about Identity Theft, visit:
Identity Theft: What It Is, How to Prevent It, Warning Signs and Tips
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-prevent-identity-theftd Tips.
To learn more about protecting your legacy visit:
4 Easy Steps to Better Manage Your Records & Personal Information
- Spring Cleaning: Mindfully and securely, clear out all outdated and irrelevant documents & personal information (old paychecks, statements, written passwords, etc.).
- Create & Organize Digital Copies: Bank & investment account statements, birth certificates, deeds and so on. Some of these documents are already available digitally; some you may have to scan and upload (hooray for scanning apps!). However they come to you, keep them organized in secure and accessible files.
- Keep It Simple Stupid: Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Keep similar documents (hard copies and digital) together and organize them by chronological and alphabetical order.
- Passwords: Arguably, the most secure password is the ever-changing one. It’s easier said than done, but changing your passwords every (3) months is the recommended practice. Make sure your passwords are at least 8 characters long and please don’t just use “12345678”. Use numbers, letters (capital & lower case) and special characters. And, whether you keep a hard copy of your passwords, a digital password manager, or you have harnessed your awesome mind powers to remember them all, make sure they are accessible, in case of an emergency, by someone you trust.
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